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Suxamethonium
INFORMATION ABOUT SUXAMETHONIUM
Suxamethonium Uses
Suxamethonium is used for Skeletal muscle relaxation during surgery.
How Suxamethonium works
Suxamethonium relaxes the muscles by blocking the impulses from the nerves.
Common side effects of Suxamethonium
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common
Rash, Increased intraocular pressure, Increased potassium level in blood, Postoperative muscle pain, Slow heart rate, Tachycardia, Skin flushing, Muscle twitch, Myoglobinemia, Myoglobinuria
CONTENT DETAILS
Written By
Dr. Anuj Saini
MMST, MBBS
Reviewed By
Dr. Rajeev Sharma
MBA, MBBS
Last updated
20 Feb 2025 | 05:03 AM (UTC)
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Expert advice for Suxamethonium
  • Suxamethonium is given as an injection into vein under the supervision of a doctor.
  • It makes you feel dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive until you know how Suxamethonium affects you.
  • Your doctor will monitor your blood pressure regularly as the medicine may lead to high blood pressure.
  • Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Frequently asked questions for Suxamethonium
Suxamethonium is a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor non-competitive agonist
Suxamethonium is used in anesthesia to induce muscle relaxation during operations, to facilitate endotracheal intubation (help insert a tube into the windpipe), reduce strong muscle contraction
Suxamethonium apnoea occurs when a patient does not have the enzymes to metabolise the drug. Due to this, a patient may remain paralysed for an increased length of time and cannot breathe adequately at the end of an anaesthetic
The initial metabolite of Suxamethonium produces a transient negative chronotropic effect through its stimulation of sinus node muscarinic receptors. Repeated dosing or infusions of Suxamethonium may lead to bradycardia that is appropriately treated with atropine
Administration of suxamethonium may lead to depolarization and a large efflux of intracellular potassium into the plasma thereby resulting in hyperkalemia
Suxamethonium cause fasciculation by an action on some distal part of motor nerve fibres
Suxamethonium is still used during general anesthesia
Suxamethonium is a short-acting muscle relaxant which exerts a depolarizing effect at the neuromuscular junction. This effect is not reversible pharmacologically
Yes, Suxamethonium should not be used in burned patients
Suxamethonium sensitivity is when the drug remains active for a longer period of time than is usual due to which muscles stay relaxed
In normal therapeutic doses, Suxamethonium does not cross the placental barrier in sufficient amounts.